New Member, got a Zorki 6

[Gradskater]

Hello all
I just got a Zorki 6 off ebay (black body) and I ran a roll of film through it today. Its in great shape, and everything seems to work as it should. I am used to using rangefinders, my main camera is a Minolta hi-matic e, but I wanted to get a completely manual camera. The Zorki was a bit of an impulse buy, but I'm more than happy with it. I used to have a kiev 4, and took some nice pictures with it, but I didn't really like dealing with the removable back. The Zorki with the hinge is just what the doctor ordered. Its pretty cool to shoot with a camera built almost 20 years before I was born.

I tried to upload some pics to the rangefinderforum site, but I didn't get it to work. Anyway here is a link to my flickr site, with the first test pictures coming from the Zorki.

www.flickr.com/photos/gradskater

the rest of the pictures were taken with either a hi-matic e or an olympus stylus epic.

Im sure I will have many questions in the future, but I just wanted to say hello for now.

Travis

[photobizzz]

Welcome Travis, I dont personally shoot with a FSU camera although I have in the past. Congrats on your purchase and hope you enjoy the forum.

Colin

[raid]

Welcome Travis.

Which lens do you have on your Zorki 6?
I have the Zorki 5, and I like it a lot.

[TVphotog]

I think that the zorki 6 combines all the best of the zorki line. Coupled with either an I-22 or a Jupiter 12 they make excellent cameras. If you ever need advice on CLA'ing your baby search 'Abyss' in this forum. I did a complete tear down of one with photos. Although, the mods keep tauting me to do a photo essay of the reassembly sequence before I achieve a sticky for it:bang:

[Gradskater]

Thanks everyone.

I have a jupiter 8 50mm f2 on it now.

I dont think I will need a CLA anytime soon, this camera feels better than most of the new plastic DSLRs I have seen recently. Smoother focus, winding, you name it. Shutter speeds seem to be good, too.

I did see the CLA teardown pictures, and thats something I would like to try one day if I come across a 6 that isn't working. Reassembly pics would be awesome!

[charjohncarter]

Welcome, Berkeley, great I'm in Danville. I don't even think I've seen a Zorki, but I'm sure you will be very happy.

[nzeeman]

congratulations - everything looks gereat on your photos. it seems you got really good example.

[wolves3012]

Travis,

Welcome to RFF. The Zorki 6 is a nice camera to use. Mine came with an Industar 50 but I actually shot my first roll with a Jupiter 8 too. The results were excellent, I was well pleased with it. My only complaint was the hazy RF/VF which made it prone to flare. I had some trouble getting the top off it but when it finally yeilded I got the VF/RF optics cleaned and it transformed it.

[Joe Vitessa]

Congrats on your camera. I really like my Zorki 6 as well. And my Industar 50 3.5 takes much better pictures than it looks.

My only problem is that the camera rips my film as I'm advancing it. Seems the spool tension is too tight or something. I haven't been able to fix it...

Joe

[pesphoto]

welcome, nice camera choice. Who was the ebay seller, sounds like they have nice stuff.

[Gradskater]

thanks everyone. Im going to shoot some more film today, and meter each exposure.

My viewfinder seems to be pretty clean. better than my kiev 4, and clearer than my hi-matic e which is in pristine condition. The view is smaller than my hi-matic, though, but I will get used to the 50mm view.

I bought the camera from "macchief2000"

[photo4ls]

Very good looking Z6, I started out w/Zorki 5 and had problems w/capping.
Got a Fed2 w/I-26 lens and it works great. Hope you enjoy your new toy :cool:

[Nickfed]

Welcome Gradskater. I have had a Zorki-6 for over forty years and it served me well. Just be a bit careful of the back door. It can come open by accident. I used to use gaffer tape routinely. There is a more sophisticated fix to the latch noted somewhere back on this forum that you may be able to trawl up.

[wolves3012]

Very good looking Z6, I started out w/Zorki 5 and had problems w/capping.
Got a Fed2 w/I-26 lens and it works great. Hope you enjoy your new toy :cool:
Capping isn't usually hard to solve...

[photo4ls]

Wolves, whats the fix for Zorki 5 capping?:confused:

[wolves3012]

Wolves, whats the fix for Zorki 5 capping?:confused:
Start by re-setting the curtain tensions. Assuming it's not in need of a CLA then capping is caused by an over-tensed second curtain or under-tensed first one. How bad was the capping and on what speeds did you notice it? Usually it's only the top speed or two.

If it wasn't half the frame or something and only on 1/500 or maybe 1/250 as well I'd have a listen on "B" first and watch the curtains. First curtain should be quite snappy and the second noticeably lazier but not slow. If the second is very snappy I'd back off that roller half or even a whole turn. If the first is not snappy then I'd up it the same half a turn. If you had to go up more than a turn I'd say it's certainly CLA time.

Take a look on Jay Javier's excellent site for how to set the tensions, the method is identical for a Zorki 5 as for the Zorki 1 that he shows:
http://jay.fedka.com/

[wolves3012]

photo4ls

...And I forgot to say, you'll have to remove the plate in the base of the camera to get at the adjusters, just 2 screws hold it on.

Can someone tell me why *sometimes* when I try and edit a post is closes my browser instead? Anyone else have that happen? Grrrrrrrr!

[Gradskater]

I put up a few more pictures if anyone wants to kill a few minutes. This time I used a meter, which helped tremendously. I wish I could convey how sharp the prints are compared to the scans, but you guys know how that goes.

www.flickr.com/photos/gradskater

Travis

[Permanent]

My only problem is that the camera rips my film as I'm advancing it. Seems the spool tension is too tight or something. I haven't been able to fix it...

Damn, I have the same on mine. Though it's a nice camera to work with, after all.

[Joao]

Hi
The Zorki-6 is great. I bought mine as ruin and had it cla'ed by Oleg. I use it with a Industar 61 L/D. Two photos here from my first roll
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joaofreitas/2173576748/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/joaofreitas/2173576748/)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joaofreitas/2173575864/in/photostream/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/joaofreitas/2173575864/in/photostream/)

Happy shooting
Joao